However, the pop superstar’s most recent statement comes as an apology for something that reportedly happened several years ago.

Over the weekend, TMZ and The Sun released a video which shows Bieber, apparently 15 at the time, making an offensive joke which involved him using a racial slur multiple times.

E! News reports that the clip was captured backstage at a promotional event during the filming of Bieber’s 2011 documentary Never Say Never. TMZ has subsequently claimed that they initially obtained the footage four years ago, but decided not to publish it at the time because the singer was so young.

In light of the video’s release, Bieber has taken to Twitter to express his regret over the situation:

“As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt,” the 20-year-old singer writes. “I thought it was okay to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.”

“Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs,” he continues. “Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all those I have offended. I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake.”

“I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again. Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right.”

“Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again…I’m sorry.”

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